But I'm sure they will be when they eventually get onto the table for a game!
For some time now I've been building up a generic Chinese army, I'm not sure why and I can't remember how it started, perhaps I just like the colours. And the flags, the flags are great. Anyway, there is no grand plan, I just bang out another unit every now and then when an idea comes to me, it's quite therapeutic, doing something different. Here's what I've got so far:
When I call them generic what I have in mind is that they will be used as an opposition in a Colonial scenario or possibly in the "Back of Beyond" or even at a stretch against Samurai.
These irregulars in black pyjamas and red bandanas are based on the Vietnamese Pavilion Noirs, mostly made from Hing Fat and other pirate figures, some have been given shields from wooden disks, others have Chinese heads (from Dorset Model Soldiers) just to give a bit of variety.
The flag has been cut out using pinking shears to give it a scalloped edge. The inscription means something but I can't remember what, hopefully nothing rude.
Imperial Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry in the centre, irregular horse on the flank.
The matchlock men are more Hing Fat pirates, their tunics extended with plasticene, otherwise just a paint job. The spearmen are medieval knights, made in China, which are currently available everywhere, and very useful they are too. For a more Quing period look they've been given plumes on their helmets and replacement spears from metal rod with tassels added.
The cannon started life as a table cigarette lighter, it looked sufficiently gaudy for the job and just need a spruce of paint. The crew have been given Mandarin hat heads (Dorset Models again).
The Imperial Cavalry started life and Italieri Mongols, the flags I found on the internet and just played around with them in Publisher.
The irregular Cavalry are the remains of the Italieri Mongols padded out with some Huns made in Spain by Jecsan.
More of the irregular Cavalry.
Fantastic looking army Brian!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maudlin Jack, It's fun to do something a bit different for a change.
DeleteBrian -
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at the Empire of Jin, also known at Kitai, or I'm Dutchman! Those fine troops would be just the thing for what is in my imagi-nationary 19th century world, a mysterious, shadowy Empire far to the east of the Ruberian Empire of Rajistan...
Cheers,
Archduke Piccolo.
I think the possibilities are endless when you go far, far to the East.
DeleteYou have done something similar to me. I converted quite a few Hing Fat pirates. I was interested to see your conversions of the knights. Is the helmet meant to be a metal helmet or are you representing soft hats? I think I see some CTA ECW cannoneers? I have a lot of ECW bt ACTA and was thinking of converting some into Asian troops. If I give them turbans I can use them for my 'Fezian' (Turkish-Persian-Indian etc)army but also as Chinese as they also wore turbans, notably red ones. The equipment is a little different byt the Chinese were still using matchlocks in the Boxer Rebellion (along with flintlocks and percussion etc)
ReplyDeleteHi James, I got the idea for the knights conversion from a mixture of Ming and Quing Dynasty uniforms, the helmet is a hard hat which I think may have been lacquered wood with a spike and horse tail plume. Yes, the gunners are CTA ECW, I find them very versatile for many periods.
DeleteVery, very cool! I'm going to copy that idea.
DeleteLook forward to seeing them when you do!
DeleteI haven't used plasticine in conversions for a while what with Green Stuff etc but the latter works out expensive. What do you fix the plasticine with? (James from Quantrill's Toy Soldiers).
ReplyDeleteI only use plasticine as a filler where it will bind to the figures and not be sticking out, then give it a couple of thin coats of EvoStick wood glue which is an industrial strength PVA.
DeleteI have used PVA too. I remember when I was a teenager reading about conversions in model soldier books and some mysterious substance called 'banana oil'. I think I ended up using liquid plastic cement. I'm not sure what qualifies as 'industrial PVA'. I buy the big container from the hardware but I thought they were all pretty much the same although there was , I think, a tougher one meant for outdoors and water proof.
ReplyDeleteI remember people always used to write about banana oil being used as a dope to cover the tissue wings of model gliders and also to coat plasticine on figure conversions but I've never met anyone who actually ever used it or even knows what it is. The PVA I use comes from the hardware store and is used by carpenters for joining wood, it's boast is that it's stronger than the wood itself.
DeleteCome to think of it I did finally get a tin of the aircraft dope. I used it on tissue havelocks I put on Airfix ACW for early war Ohio troops.
DeleteGreat stuff Brian, good to see you back in the saddle!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eric, I glad to be getting back to some sort of new normality!
DeleteYou have created a truly magnificent army Brian! I pity the colonial power that dares to mess with them!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
It's a fun stop/start project that has no beginning or end my only criteria for this Chinese army is that it has to be big on numbers and loud on colour. And lots of flags, not nearly enough flags yet!
DeleteA superb colourful Army of pirate conversions!
ReplyDeleteFortunately I have quite a hoard of these cheapo pirates, the challenge is to use the same figures but somehow make the units look different and distinctive
DeleteI have use the pirates as Balkan partisans and Mexicans! Some I even made into Renaissance types and Turks.
ReplyDeleteAre they WW2 Balkan partisans? that could be an interesting project.
DeleteNo, more like Balkan Wars of Independence from Turkey, lking a bit like Montenegrans.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I can see that working well.
DeleteThis is a colourful army, not often seen in 54mm. I was immediately reminded of a certain film starring Niven and Charlton. Thank you for the view!
ReplyDeleteMichael
Thanks Michael, it's fun to so something a bit different.
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